What is the name of the bird with the scientific name of ‘Streptopelia decaocto’ and how did it get that name?Eurasian Collared doves have that scientific name and they got that name from Greek mythology. There was a maid of Zeus who was unhappy at her plight since she received only 18 or (decaocto) pieces of money every year and hence, Zeus instead changed her into a dove and that dove has been called ‘decaocto’ ever since.Collared doves or even dove in general stands as a symbol for peace, love, and friendship between individuals.Covered with white tail feathers and with its complimentary dark-tipped wings, the Eurasian collared dove usually settles into phone wires, trees, and fence posts in order to give its signature coo.A distant relative of the mourning dove, the black half-collar at the nape of the doves’ neck gives it the name ‘collared dove’ but the collar is present only in an adult Eurasian collared dove.The collared doves belong to the family Columbidae which consists of pigeons and doves and looks very similar to wood pigeons, but they are comparatively more delicate looking, even though they’re found to be the more dominant of the two birds and can even be chasing pigeons away from your garden if found together!Also, if you can observe a very detailed print when a bird flows in through the window of your room, it will probably be a collared dove. That is because the dove has such dusty feathers that on the imprint of the window, detailed individual feathers, the beak, and even the eyelids can be seen clearly.How To Identify A Collared DoveCollared doves look a little different from other types of doves. These are some ways in which you can identify a collared dove:Collared doves have long tails, small heads, and plump bodies which are squared off at the tip, unlike the mourning dove which has a pointed tip. Collared doves also have slightly rounded and broad wings.When the birds walk together in flocks, they bob their heads and flick their tails. It has short legs which are red and a black bill.The Eurasian collared doves look very similar to the wood pigeons and the European turtle doves but the collared dove is smaller than the pigeon but a little larger than the turtle dove.Eurasian Collared dove is usually in colors ranging from light brown to gray-yellowish beige in color with white broad patches in its tail.The male and female species of the collared doves are almost indistinguishable from each other.The typical call of the Eurasian collared dove is a clear, high pitched and tenacious three-note ‘goo goo goo’.The collared doves also make a harsh loud screeching call when in flight which lasts for about two seconds, particularly just before landing.Eurasian collared doves have a red iris, but from a distance, the eyes appear to be black as their pupils are relatively large. Though the iris is brown in the case of smaller doves.Habitat Of Collared dovesCollared doves initially lived in Europe but then spread off to the entire world. Below are some of their native places and also some nesting places which they prefer:The range of this bird was across regions with warmer temperatures like southeastern Europe and Japan. This bird was introduced in the Bahamas in the ‘70’s, and then in Florida afterward. These birds have slowly colonized the entire continent of North America. However, the expansion has not reached the northeastern states there, apart from some strays. The Eurasian collared dove, even though native to Europe, started spreading off to new areas on its own, as its little ones had a tendency to fly off far and wide. Hence, though not migratory, these birds are said to be the greatest colonizers in the bird world.These species usually nest in trees or shrubs but can also use buildings and their gutters, and also lamp brackets. The nesting of collared doves usually just consists of a platform of sticks.Eurasian collared doves made their way from habitats in the Bahamas to North America where some birds escaped during a burglary and others were released by the owner at the site of an eruption, then, the native species made their way to Michigan, Florida, and most of North America.The collared dove has now become a common bird we can usually see in our garden though that has decreased a little since 2015.Diet Of Collared DovesThe collared dove also needs proper food for its growth and well-being. Examples of foods for collared doves would include:Their food mostly contains seed and grain though sometimes berries, shoots, and some fruits can also fill their appetite.The average lifespan of the Eurasian collared dove would be almost three years but in some rare cases, it may go up to 17 years.Collared doves are consistently monogamous but can mate with other species like mourning doves if the population declines intensely. These birds can procreate continuously in warm regions.The females will breed the eggs during the day but at night, the males will hatch instead.The breeding period usually extends from March to September, but if enough grains and seeds are present, winter months can also be extended in that period.The young collared dove isn’t fed the adult food for the doves but instead fed with crop milk.They are friendly birds and you can even attract them to your garden or yard by placing a few of their favorite grains or seeds in bird feeders and they’ll eat it out of your hands.Why are collared doves a problem?Collared doves are friendly and adorable. However, they also cause some problems too. These include:The main reason these Eurasian collared doves are thought to be pests is that they contain diseases like Trichomonas gallinae and Pigeon paramyxovirus.These diseases can be passed over to other birds and can cause respiratory problems in them and then eventually death.They can cause trouble for farmers because their livestock, mainly their chickens, may end up getting infected.This Eurasian collared dove is also attracted to the grains and seed in farms which can cause serious risk in spreading of diseases through its droppings getting on these crops.Since these birds can travel in numbers and have a high-pitched sound, they may become a source of nuisance for some households too.Hence, in order to keep them away, you can use spikes to stop them from roosting or landing at a place while netting can also be used to deter them from a particular area altogether.Also contacting total bird control to control them also will be a good way to keep them away.
What is the name of the bird with the scientific name of ‘Streptopelia decaocto’ and how did it get that name?
